The spring of 2000 brought on a whole new segment to our layout. Up
until that point the main plant life on the layout had been weeds. I don't just mean a few
here and there, I mean everywhere! As fast as I could pull them up, they would grow right
back. But, now with another spring that has sprung, we are starting to fill the layout
with more real plant life. Way back when the layout was started we used clean (cheap)
sandy fill dirt to raise the layout to a point that was almost where we wanted it. In some
area's that was close to a foot of filling. The sandy dirt was used primarily because it
would not decompose and sink like top soil or other organically rich materials. That dirt
was tamped and left to settle on it's own for a full year while we planned, bought and
prepared to start laying track. Then the layout was finished with some nice rich, black,
wet, peat'ish topsoil from an old horse ranch (yep, it stunk too). It was perfect for
growing the plants we would like to have and the sandy under laying dirt drains very well.
The top soil also had a full year to settle and let me tell you, it settled a lot! The
entire layout was at least one inch lower after the 1999/2000 winter.
Now for the fun part, the plants. Further below you can see what we have
planted so far. I will try to update the page as new plantings happen and I learn what's
what and how to do it right... I'll also add details later in the growing seasons to let
everyone know how the plants are doing. But for now all I can give you is the basics. We
live in White Lake, Michigan which is in the Southeastern corner and the closest
recognizable city would be Pontiac. Our U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness
Zone is right on the edge of 6a and 5b.
If your like me and can't remember what your zone is, the map below shows the current
U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zones along with their temperatures.
Our plants are:
Name:
Acre Sedum
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Sun
Height:
4 to 6 inches
Spacing:
8 by 8 inches
Notes:
Yellow flowers, 2-4 weeks in June with green
succulent leaves.
Name:
Blue Spruce Sedum (Sedum Reflexum Blue Spruce)
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Sun
Height:
6 to 8 inches
Spacing:
8 by 8 inches
Notes:
Yellow flowers, 2-4 weeks in July with green
needle like foliage.
Name:
Corsican Mint (Mentha Requienii)
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Partial shade
Height:
1"
Spacing:
Spreads 12 inches
Notes:
Tastes & smells like peppermint. Harvest
young leaves in early spring.
Name:
Creeping Acre Sedum
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Sun to partial shade
Height:
3"
Spacing:
8 by 8 inches
Notes:
Yellow flowers, May through June. Spreads very
fast and is drought tolerant.
Name:
Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea Glauca 'Conica')
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Sun to partial shade
Height:
6 to 8 feet (normally)
Spacing:
8 to 10 feet (normally)
Notes:
These make great trees for the layout. They
grow slow and with proper trimming, they look great for years.
Name:
Elfin Thyme
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Sun
Height:
3 inches
Spacing:
Creeping
Notes:
Pink flowers and tiny rounded foliage with a
trailing growth habit.
Name:
Golden Lemon Thyme (Thymus Citriodorus Aureus)
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Sun
Height:
8 to 12 inches
Spacing:
Spreads 12 to 18 inches
Notes:
Fragrant golden variegated leaves with strong
lemon scent.
Name:
Irish Moss (Sagina Subulata)
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Partial shade to shade
Height:
2 to 4 inches
Spacing:
8 by 8 inches
Notes:
Tiny white flowers, 1-2 weeks in July and
tolerates foot traffic.
Name:
Mother of Thyme (Thymus Serpyllum Mother of)
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Sun
Height:
4 to 6 inches
Spacing:
12 to 18 inches
Notes:
Fragrant lavender flowers, 4-6 weeks in June.
Name:
Nevii Sedum
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Sun to partial shade
Height:
4 to 6 inches
Spacing:
Spreads 12 to 18 inches
Notes:
White flowers, 2-4 weeks in June.
Name:
Pink Chintz Thyme (Thymus Serpyllum Pink
Chintz)
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Sun to partial shade
Height:
2 to 4 inches
Spacing:
Spreads 12 to 18 inches
Notes:
Fragrant salmon pink flowers, 2-4 weeks in
June.
Name:
Red Thyme (Thymus Praecox Coccineus)
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Sun
Height:
4 to 6 inches
Spacing:
Spreads 12 to 18 inches
Notes:
Fragrant scarlet flowers, 2-4 weeks in June.
Name:
Scotch Moss (Sagina Subulata Aurea)
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Partial shade to shade
Height:
2 to 4 inches
Spacing:
8 by 8 inches
Notes:
Small white flowers, 1-2 weeks in July and
tolerates foot traffic.
Name:
Spiderwort, Concord Grape (Tradescantia)
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Sun to partial shade
Height:
16 to 20 inches
Spacing:
Spreads 12 to 18 inches
Notes:
Grape purple flowers 2 to 4 weeks in late June.
Name:
Tiger Lilly
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Height:
Spacing:
Notes:
Name:
Wooly Thyme (Thymus Pseudolanuginosus)
Type:
Perennial
Area:
Sun
Height:
2 to 4 inches
Spacing:
12 to 18 inches
Notes:
Fragrant pink flowers, 2-4 weeks in June and
tolerates foot traffic.
Questions or problems regarding this web site
should be directed to Jon Foster
JJ & C RailRoad
